Magnet-Based Mechanical Logic Gates With Programmability and Continuous Operation Capability in High-Radiation Environments

Mechanical logic gates provide mechanical systems with the ability to process information, thereby promoting the evolution of mechanical computing. However, current mechanical logic gates rely on sustained energy to maintain their programmable logical functions, and they cannot achieve both programmability and the capability for continuous operation within a single framework. In this article, we propose a design strategy for mechanical logic gates that harnesses a magnetic bistable mechanism and a magnetic spring configuration, thereby overcoming the limitations of existing mechanical computing systems. Strategically adjusting parameters or reconfiguring kinematic pairs within magnetic interconnects achieves programmable logical functions that can be maintained without external energy. The continuous operation capability allows the output of logic gates to respond to varying inputs in real time, which enables mechanical computing systems to execute multiple computations continuously without resetting. Furthermore, we have experimentally validated the functioning of the mechanical logic gates under high-radiation environments, marking a significant stride for the application of mechanical computing in extreme conditions. This strategy paves the way for the development of mechanical computing systems that possess programmability and continuous operation capabilities concurrently, empowering them to execute complex operations in high-radiation environments.